Hart Trophy Finalists Revealed: McDavid, Kucherov, and MacKinnon Compete for NHL MVP

The race for the Hart Trophy is heating up as the finalists for the NHL’s most valuable player award have been unveiled. This year’s contenders include three prolific talents: Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. Each player has already made their mark in the league, with McDavid boasting three previous Hart wins, while Kucherov and MacKinnon each hold one.

During the 2025-26 season, these three players emerged as the league’s top scorers, showcasing their elite offensive skills. Notably, MacKinnon not only ranked among the scoring leaders but also secured the title of league’s top goal scorer. As fans eagerly await the announcement of the winner, the competition remains fierce.

The Hart Trophy, which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, is known for its rigorous selection process. While all three finalists are deserving, MacKinnon may hold a slight advantage due to his goal-scoring prowess and the Avalanche’s status as the team with the best record in the league.

However, there are also notable omissions from this year’s finalists. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, who set a franchise scoring record and finished fourth in league points, was a strong contender. Despite his impressive season and being a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, which honors the most outstanding player as voted by peers, Celebrini’s failure to lead the Sharks into the playoffs likely impacted his chances.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.